Election Material: Post Office Box Numbers

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a Post Office box number meets the imprint requirements for election leaflets.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Section 110 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and Section 143 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 variously require the name and address of the printer, publisher, promoter or any other person on behalf of whom the materal is published to be included on election material. Whether that requirement would be met by the provision of the Post Office box number is a point that has not previously arisen and we will discuss the issue with the Electoral Commission.

Personal Injury Cases: Conditional Fee Arrangements

Baroness Turner of Camden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any savings have been made in legal aid expenditure since the introduction of the Conditional Fee Agreements Regulations in April 2000; and, if so, how much.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Legal Services Commission does not record case data in a way that would enable an answer to be given to the exact Question asked.
	Conditional fee arrangements are most widely used in personal injury cases as claims relating to negligently caused injury are excluded from public funding under Schedule 2 to the Access to Justice Act 1999 on the basis that such matters are suitable for conditional fee arrangements.
	Net savings to the Community Legal Service Fund from the introduction of conditional fee arrangements in personal injury cases in the period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2002 are estimated at £85 million.

Special Immigration Appeals Commission Cases: Funding

Lord Gregson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to change the way the Legal Services Commission funds cases which are heard before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Lord Chancellor has today issued a direction under section 6(8)(b) of the Access to Justice Act 1999 to the Legal Services Commission which will bring the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) within the scope of the Community Legal Service. This will allow applicants to receive public funding from the CLS for cases before SIAC, subject to the normal financial eligibility and merits criteria being met.
	This direction will cover the period before the relevant provisions in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 comes into force next April, The Act will amend Schedule 2 to the Access to Justice Act 1999 to the same effect. Prior to the issuing of this direction, funding for representation before SIAC has been provided for on an individual basis under section 6(8)(b) of the Access to Justice Act 1999, which specifies that certain cases can be funded in exceptional circumstances on the express approval of the Lord Chancellor.

Privately-funded FE and HE Institutions

Baroness Brigstocke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) how many privately-funded institutions of further and higher education there are in the United Kingdom; (b) how many students are enrolled in these institutions, and how many of these students are from overseas; and (c) what arrangements there are for ensuring that these institutions are bona fide educational establishments and are of good quality.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Information on the number of privately funded further and higher education institutions and their students is not collected by the department unless the institution is in receipt of public funding. Therefore figures for the sector as a whole are not available.
	Privately funded colleges of further and higher education are independent and autonomous institutions. Where they offer courses which receive public funding they have to meet the requirements of the relevant funding body. Where they offer courses leading to formal qualifications they have to meet the standards and other requirements of the bodies issuing those qualifications. Only institutions with recognised degree awarding powers are permitted to award UK degrees. John B

Oxford and Cambridge and Russell Group of Universities: Honours Degrees

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of students who gained their first degrees in 2002 from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and each member of the Russell group of universites received (a) a first-class honours degree and (b) a 2(1) honours degree.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The latest available data showing students who graduated in 2001 is shown in the table. Information for 2002 graduates will be available in January 2003.
	
		First Degree Graduates by Class of Degree Obtained 2000-01
		
			   Numbers   Percentages  
			  1st Class Upper 2nd Other Total 1st Class Upper 2nd Other 
			 The University of Birmingham 553 2,372 1,622 4,547 12.2 52.2 35.7 
			 The University of Bristol 399 1,463 715 2,577 15.5 56.8 27.7 
			 The University of Cambridge 1,013 1,686 597 3,296 30.7 51.2 18.1 
			 The University of Leeds 466 2,396 1,617 4,479 10.4 53.5 36.1 
			 The University of Liverpool 280 1,355 1,358 2,993 9.4 45.3 45.4 
			 King's College London 306 1,240 1,179 2,725 11.2 45.5 43.3 
			 London School of Economics and Political  Science 152 571 301 1,024 14.8 55.8 29.4 
			 The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 231 1,418 1,115 2,764 8.4 51.3 40.3 
			 The University of Nottingham 414 1,641 916 2,971 13.9 55.2 30.8 
			 The University of Oxford 694 2,011 581 3,286 21.1 61.2 17.7 
			 The University of Sheffield 356 1,913 1,264 3,533 10.1 54.1 35.8 
			 The University of Southampton 386 1,701 1,426 3,513 11.0 48.4 40.6 
			 The University of Edinburgh 463 1,797 1,285 3,515 13.2 50.3 36.6 
			 The University of Glasgow 312 1,362 1,590 3,264 9.6 41.7 48.7 
			 Cardiff University 394 1,785 1,330 3,509 11.2 50.9 37.9 
			 The University of Warwick 411 1,375 605 2,391 17.2 57.5 25.3 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology &  Medicine 404 771 683 1,858 21.7 41.5 36.8 
			 University College London 500 1,593 1,073 3,166 15.8 50.3 33.9 
			 The Victoria University of Manchester 579 1,986 1,471 4,036 14.3 49.2 36.4

Passive Smoking

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether exposure to tobacco smoke for people with asthma often leads to more severe symptoms such as reduced lung function, lower quality of life and increased use of the health service; and whether they will now ban smoking in the workplace or in public areas.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The effects of passive smoking on those suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditions are well recognised. Although we do not intend to introduce legislation banning smoking in the workplace or public areas, we accept the right of everyone to breath air unpolluted by cigarette smoke and we encourage the introduction of smoke-free environments. We recognise that this is not always going to be possible and encourage in these circumstances other measures to be taken to reduce people's exposure to smoke.
	This year the Department of Health is funding local tobacco control alliances across England to carry out projects in close co-operation with local employers to tackle passive smoking and to increase the number of smoke free environments. These projects vary in nature from the production of smoke-free guides to pubs and restaurants to the provision of advice and support to managers wishing to introduce policies. We hope that many will be suitable for national application.

Abortion

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What type of material is supplied to a woman contemplating an abortion in the National Health Service; and whether they will place in the Library of the House examples of such material given; and
	Whether any booklets or other information are given by the National Health Service to a woman contemplating an abortion that would show foetal development; and
	Whether the abortion procedures are explained in detail by the National Health Service to a woman contemplating an abortion; and
	Whether the adverse consequences of an abortion are discussed by the National Health Service with a woman contemplating an abortion.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department of Health-funded Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) evidence-based guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000), which is applicable to National Health Service and independent sector providers, recognises the importance of women seeking abortion receiving accurate, impartial information. Verbal advice must be supported by printed information which every woman considering abortion can understand and may take away and read before the procedure.
	The guideline states that professionals should be equipped to provide women with the information they need in order to give genuinely informed consent: that abortion is safe and complications are uncommon; description of the abortion methods that are available; immediate complications including haemorrhage requiring blood transfusion, uterine perforation which may require immediate abdominal surgery, cervical laceration which may require suturing and anaesthetic complications; complications in the early weeks following abortion including incomplete abortion requiring re-evacuation, continuing pregnancy, pelvic infection, short-term emotional distress and ectopic pregnancy; and long-term effects of abortion (which are rare or uproven) including breast cancer, infertility and psychological sequelae.
	In 2001 the Department of Health also funded the RCOG to produce the patient leaflet About Abortion Care; which is available for use by NHS and independent sector providers. The leaflet does not provide information on foetal development. The leaflet can be found at www.rcog.org.uk/resources/pdf/12062001 abortion care.pdf. Copies have also been placed in the Library. In addition, many NHS and independent sector providers produce their own literature for women considering an abortion.

Northern Ireland Block Grant

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7 November 2002 (WA166) concerning the Northern Ireland block grant, what is the underspend for the year 2002–03.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: There is not yet any change to the Answer I gave to the noble Lord on 7 November 2002 (WA166) as it is still too early to determine underspend at 31 March 2003.

Newtownstewart By-pass

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether vehicles will be able to travel along the new Newtownstewart by-pass in Northern Ireland before Christmas; and when this by-pass will be opened.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: This is a matter for the chief executive for the Northern Ireland Road Service, who has written to the noble Lord. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland Railways: Funding forNew Trains

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the former Minister for Regional Development in the Northern Ireland devolved executive requested an allocation of £48 million to this department for the purchase of new trains in the present financial year; when these trains were due for delivery; whether any of this £48 million has been re-allocated to other departments; and whether all this £48 million will be spent during the present financial year.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The former Minister for Regional Development did not request an allocation of £48 million for "the purchase of new trains in the present financial year".
	Additional resources were provided by the Assembly to the Department for Regional Development (DRD) in December 2000 following the report of the Railways Task Force. The larger part of these resources involved the provision of grant support to Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) for the purchase of new trains. The amounts earmarked for this purpose in 2001–02 and 2002–03 amounted to some £49 million.
	A contract for the new rolling stock was let by NIR in spring 2002 involving staged payments to the contractor throughout the period 2001–02 to 2004–05. The department has made and will continue to make the appropriate grant payments to NIR to achieve this, although some rephasing or expenditure has been necessary in line with the contract details. The draft budget for 2003–04 to 2005–06 includes the required provision and I can report that the delivery of the trains in 2004 is on schedule.
	The change in government accounting policy following the introduction of resource accounting and budgeting in April 2001 gave rise to a question in respect of the interpretation and application of the new rules on resource budgeting. Clarification of the nature of the stage payments confirmed that they did not create an asset, and hence those payments were not a charge on the department's departmental expenditure limit (DEL).
	Although DRD made substantial grant payments to NIR in 2001–02 and 2002–03 in respect of trains, none of this scores in the budget under the resource budgeting rules that apply for those two financial years. As soon as this technicality was clarified, in August 2002, £49 million was made available for re-allocation under the normal rules that apply to all departments. This funding, together with other funds, making a total of £141 million, has been allocated to good effect across departments and is profiled to be spent in the current financial year The details of this expenditure were announced by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ian Pearson MP, on 13 November, reflecting the proposals put forward in October by the former Finance Minister, Dr Sean Farren.

Irish Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7 November (WA174), how many representatives of the Ulster Protestant, Ulster Scots, and Ulster Unionist communities in the Irish Republic are members of the Irish Human Rights Commission.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: No person from the groups mentioned above applied to be considered for appointment to the Irish Human Rights Commission.
	Members of the Irish Human Rights Commission represent Irish society as a whole, rather than reflecting particular parts of the community.

Northern Ireland: Digital Hearing Aids

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they propose to make digital hearing aids available in Northern Ireland on the National Health Service.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government are committed to providing digital hearing aids (DHAs) as soon as funding permits. The necessary additional funding is not available at this time.

Carry-over of Bills

Lord Norton of Louth: asked the Leader of the House:
	What progress has been made to ensure that Bills carried over from one Session to another are subject to a specified time limit.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: In the last parliamentary Session both Houses agreed a process whereby Bills could be carried over from one Session to the next in order to provide greater time for legislative scrutiny and create a smoother flow of legislation throughout the year.
	This House agreed on 24 July that if a Bill that has been carried over does not reach the statute book by the end of the Session following carry-over, it will fall. The House of Commons has also agreed that no Bill should be carried over for more than one Session (House of Commons temporary Standing Order on carry-over of Bills, para 4, agreed 29 October 2002. See also para 39, 2nd Report of the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons, Session 2001–02). Therefore any Bill that is carried over will be subject to a time limit of no more than one Session following the Session from which it has been carried over.
	The House of Commons has also agreed that, if a Bill carried over in the Commons is not completed within 12 months after its First Reading in the House of Commons, then it should not be further proceeded with without a fresh Motion (House of Commons temporary Standing Order on carry-over of Bills, para 10, agreed 20 October 2002).